Hose-attachable washing implement



Patented Nov. 25, 1952 HOSE-ATTACHABLE WASHING IMPLEMENT Leo G. Simms, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Winkitty Products, Inc., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 94,978

1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices attachable to a hose and having manually operable valve means whereby, at the will of the user, either a spray of clear water or a spray of water mixed with a soluble substance can be discharged from nozzle means incorporated Such devices adapted for attachment to a garden hose or the like may be employed for many purposes. The most common use is for washing a motor vehicle, but the device may also be employed upon the substitution of suitable materials to be introduced into the spray instead of the detergent materials, for such uses as applying germicides, fungicides, fertilizer, et cetera, and its use as an aid to washing is not limited to vehicles, but it may be used for washing windows or screens or other objects with equal advantage.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device attachable to a hose having a receiving cavity for a slowly soluble material and having valve means whereby either a solution or clear water may be delivered in a spray at the will of the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to be attached to a hose and held in the hand of the user in the manner of a spray nozzle and which is provided within the confines of the portion grasped by the user with a cavity for a soluble material to be mixed with water passing therethrough.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character having separate nozzles for the discharge of solution and clear water respectively.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a solution injecting nozzle means attachable to a hose and adapted to be held in the hand of the user in the manner of a conventional spray nozzle and in which the control of the solution containing spray is efiected by a manually operable valve so positioned as to be controlled by the thumb of the hand in which the device is held.

With the above objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, or the equivalents thereof described, by way of example, in the following specification of a representative mode of execution of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a right hand end elevation of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged medial sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

with the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the invention, and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken on the lines 6-6 and 1-7, respectively, of Fig. 5.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a body member I of generally elliptical cross section and somewhat longer than the width of the average human hand. Preferably, the side surfaces of the body member are knurled as indicated at 2 and the lower face is formed with a series of shallow transverse grooves 3, to receive the fingers of the hand of the user with resultant positioning of the hand so that a valve means later to be described in detail will be beneath the thumb of the user. At one end, the body member I is provided with an enlarged portion 4 which is provided with internal threads 5 and a gasket receiving shoulder 6, for a gasket 6' whereby the body member may be attached to one end of a water hose. The bore 1 extends longitudinally through the lower portion of the body member I from the hose connection to the opposite end of the body member and terminates in an internally threaded portion 8 into which one end of a tubular spray body member 9 is screwed. The other end IU of the member 9 is reduced in diameter and terminates in a diffusing member II of inverted frusto conical form. The reduced diameter portion II) is provided with a series of transverse ports I2 communicating with the central bore I3 of the member 9. Threadedly engaging the exterior of the member 9 is a spray adjusting and shut off member I 4 having successively reduced internal diameter portions I5 and I6 slightly spaced from the portions IE3 and II of the member 9. These portions I5 and It form a shoulder l4 adapted, upon rotation of the member I4, to engage or to be moved away from the end of the reduced diameter portion I!) with resultant shutting 01f of the flow of water therethrough or of permitting water to flow at the desired rate and then be converted into a spray by the member I I.

The upper portion of the body member I is provided with a bore I1 extending parallel to the bore 1 from the hose attached end to a point near the opposite end of the body member, and having a fine screen I I in the end thereof. The open end of the bore I1 is threaded and is closed by a removable screw plug I8 and an associated gasket I9. The body member I is provided with a transverse bore 20, extending from adjacent the front or nozzle end of the bore 1 to the upper surface of the body member. This bore near the bore 1 is threaded to receive a normally closed valve assembly 2I such as a tire valve and above the tire valve a. bore or passage 22 connects the mid portion of the bore 20 with the bore II. Above the bore or passage 22, the bore 20 is enlarged as at 23 to receive a gasket means comprising a pair of spaced metal washers 25 and 26 and an interposed rubber washer 21; the gasket means affording guidance for a button element 28 mounted for reciprocation therein. The inner end of the button element is provided with a head portion 28, the upper face of which engages the lower face of the washer 26 and the lower face of the head portion 29 engages a compression spring 30, seated in the bore 20 at the upper end of a valve assembly 2 I' and the spring normally urges the button element upwardly. A nut 3I, surrounding the button element and screwed into the upper end of the bore 20 by means of screw driver slots 32, 32 serves to hold the button element, gasket means and the spring 30 in assembly.

Axially aligned with the bore I1 and extending from the front end of the body member I to a point adjacent the bore 20 is a tapered nozzle bore 33. A bore 34 extends from the side of the body member I into the nozzle bore 33 at about its mid point (see Fig. 4), and the outer end of the bore 34 is closed by a plug 35. A bore or passage 36 extends from the inner end of the bore I'I past the bore 28 and intothe bore 34.

In use, a cartridge of soap or other soluble material is placed in the bore I! and the plug I8 is replaced. Assuming the device is connected to a water hose and that the member I4 is closed, upon pressing down on the button member 28, the head thereof will engage the valve stem 3'! and open the valve whereupon water will flow from the bore I through the valve assembly 2I and thence through the bore 22 into the bore IT in which it will pick up some of the cartridge material. The water will then flow through the bores 36 and 34 into the nozzle bore 33 and be discharged therefrom in a spray. Upon release of the button 28, the valve assembly will close and the user can then unscrew the member I4 to the desired amount to permit a spray of rinsing water to be discharged therefrom. This sequence of operations is that which would be followed in washing a motor vehicle or the like. When the device is used for applying germicides, insecticides or fertilizer, the rinsing operation would, of course, be omitted. The device is small in size, and as easily manipulated as the ordinary nozzle. The compounds employed are of such character as to be slowly soluble, so that a suitable amount of work can be accomplished with. a single charging. The. valve means is a standard article of commerce, and therefore, can be readily replaced, and in fact is the only part liable to require replacement.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6- and 7, there is shown a modified form of the device which has the advantage of. requiring less machining but which requires a special valve. In this form of the invention the tapered nozzle 33' leading from the bore I1 is laterally offset from the center line of the body member I (see Figs. and 7) and as a consequence it can be cast in place eliminating drilling of the bore 34 and the insertion of the plug 35.

The valve bore extends for the same distance andin the same location as the bore 20 and comprises in order, an outer larger threaded portion 31, an inner smaller threaded portion 38, a frusto conical ball retaining portion 39 and a port 40 communicating with the bore I. A ball M is loosely confined in the lower portion of the bore by a retainer 42 threadedly engaging the threaded portion 38 and having a control opening 43 extending therethrough. The inner end face of the opening 43 serves as a seat for the ball 4I and the outer end face of the retainer serves as a seat for one end of a compression spring 44 the other end of which engages a shoulder 45 formed by a flange 45 on a plunger 46 which at one end has a pin portion 41 extending through the spring 44 and into the opening 43. The opposite end of the plunger extends through a metal washer 48 seated on the shoulder 49 formed by the juncture of the threaded portions 31 and 38 adjacent the outer face of the flange 45 thence through a gasket 50, thence through a second metal washer 5| and thence through a gland nut 52 threaded into the portion 31. Normally, the spring 44 holds the plunger pressed outwardly and out of contact with the ball 4I which, when pressure exists in the bore 7, is caused to engage and seat against the retainer 42 to prevent the flow of fluid therethrough. When the plunger is depressed, unseating the ball, fluid will flow into the bore I1 and thence out the tapered nozzle 33'.

The mode of use is the same as has been previously described and repetition is not thought to be necessary.

While the foregoing specification describes specific modes of execution of the invention, I do not intend thereby to limit myself to the exact forms there disclosed, and the invention includes all such modifications of the parts and of the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claim.

I claim:

A spray producing device comprising an elongated body member adapted to be grasped by the user and having a bore extending longitudinally thereof from an inlet orifice adapted for connection to a water supply hose at one end of the body member to a first spray producing nozzle at the other end of said body member, means associated with said first nozzle for regulating or preventing the flow of fluid therethrough; said body member having a chamber disposed parallel to and laterally offset from said bore for the reception of a soluble compound, fluid conduit means extending between said bore and the end of said chamber adjacent said first nozzle and comprising a bore extending at right angles from said first-named bore to the exterior of said body member and a third bore extending from said second bore to said chamber, a normally closed valve in said conduit means, a spring biased button carried by said body member and extending to the exterior thereof for opening said valve, and an outlet means extending from the end of said chamber entered by said conduit means to a second nozzle means disposed parallel to and laterally offset from said first nozzle; said button and valve being so positioned in said body member as to be operable by the thumb of the hand in which said body member is held.

LEO G. SIMMS.

(References on following page) 6 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date The following references are of record in the 1'677645 Luthander July 17, 1928 fil of t t t; 4 w May 1 1 2,289,889 Stick et a1 July 14, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,325,758 Ferguson v Aug. 3, 1943 Number Name Date 2,514,225 Dabrohua July 4, 1950 811,749 Somers Feb. 6, 1906 1,343,490 Albertson v June 15, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,476,090 Lipsner Dec.4,1923 Number Country Date 1,532,309 Girard Apr. 7, 1925 10 287,203 Germany Sept 15, 1915 1.579.869 Klages Apr, 6, 1926 418,102 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1934 

